Employees Responsibility to keep Corporate Data Secure

Keep your corporate data secure by talking to your staff and training them on its importance.

Nearly a quarter of employees believe that corporate data security is not their responsibility. A survey conducted in 2014 by Absolute Software found that 23% of employees claimed data security was the organisation’s responsibility, rather than the individual’s.

With new initiatives like BYOD (bring your own device) popping up in workplaces around the country, there has never been a more important time to train your staff on how to keep corporate data secure. They need to understand that it is their responsibility and that if they do not take the appropriate action to keep your organisation’s data secure, they will be penalised for it.

Creating a data security policy

One of the best ways to involve your employees in corporate data security is to create a policy. Your policy should outline what is expected of employees in terms of keeping your organisation’s data secure and the action they need to take. It must also outline the consequences of failing to keep corporate data secure; this should include consequences for the individual, as well as the organisation as a whole.

As we mentioned briefly, more and more businesses are now implementing a BYOD policy in the workplace. Allowing staff to bring in and use their own devices comes with its own set of risks. It is therefore important that your policy covers BYOD and what will happen if staff lose their device or leave the company. It is important that your staff agree to your policy before you allow them to bring their own devices into the workplace.

Train your employees on data security

Make sure your staff understand how to keep their computers and devices secure.

You can’t expect your employees to know how to keep your data secure – unless of course they happen to work in IT. This is why it is essential that you invest time and money into training your employees on data security.

The more knowledgeable they are on the subject, the more confidence they will have in carrying out the necessary procedures to protect your corporate data. Training them will also eliminate any possible excuses they can come up with for failing to keep your corporate data secure.

Your training should include everything from the importance of creating strong passwords (and changing them regularly) to how to store and transmit data safely. It should also cover online risks such as email attachments and dodgy websites that can contain malware. Make sure your staff know they should speak up if they are suspicious of any activity on their devices and know who they need to inform.

Security software is great but it can’t do it all

You could invest in the best security software available but if your employees don’t understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping your data safe, it’ll be a complete waste of money.

Your employees are fundamental to your operations and therefore have a key role to play in data protection. Make sure they are aware of this and fully understand the risks and consequences of failing to take the appropriate action. The more you talk to your employees about corporate data security and the more training you provide, the less likely your business is to experience a serious breach of security in the future.

Do you need help developing policies for protecting corporate data security in the workplace? Feel free to get in touch with the team here at The HR Booth. We can assist you in creating clear and effective policies that ensure employees are fully aware of their responsibilities in the workplace.